Public Holidays and Seasonal Closures in Tokyo: What to Expect
Japan has 16 national holidays plus three big seasonal breaks — New Year, Golden Week, and Obon. Here is what closes, what stays open, and how to plan around the crowds.
If you have ever shown up at a ward office or clinic during the New Year break and found the lights off, you know how Japan's holidays can catch you off guard. The good news: the closures are predictable, and once you know the three big seasons, you can plan around them easily. Convenience stores, trains, and most restaurants keep running — it is mainly the offices, banks, and small shops that take time off.
The three big seasonal breaks
- New Year (年末年始): roughly December 29 to January 3. This is the biggest shutdown of the year — ward offices, banks, post offices, and many clinics and small shops close. Shrines and temples, by contrast, get very busy with hatsumode (the first visit of the year).
- Golden Week: late April to early May, when four national holidays cluster together (Showa Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, and Children's Day). Many people take the whole stretch off and travel.
- Obon: mid-August (commonly August 13–16), a customary period — not a single national holiday — when many people return to their hometowns. Trains, flights, and hotels fill up. Note: Mountain Day on August 11 is the official national holiday near this time.
What closes vs. what stays open
- Usually closed: ward and city offices, banks (counters), post office counters, many clinics, government services, and some small or family-run shops.
- Usually open: convenience stores, supermarkets, major department stores, chain restaurants, trains and subways, airports, and big tourist attractions.
- In between: bank ATMs and online banking usually keep working, though some transactions or year-end transfers may be limited or carry extra fees. Check your bank's notice.
Tips to plan around the closures
- Book transport and hotels early. Shinkansen seats, flights, and rooms sell out and get pricier weeks ahead of Golden Week and Obon.
- Finish errands ahead of time. Visit the ward office, bank, or clinic a few days before a break, and do urgent transfers before the last business day.
- Keep some cash on hand. ATMs run but may charge extra or limit amounts during New Year — and over the New Year period (年末年始) some banks shut their ATMs down entirely for a few days of system maintenance, so withdraw whatever cash you will need before the break. Small shops may also be cash-only.
- Watch for substitute holidays (振替休日). When a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the next non-holiday weekday becomes a day off — so a Monday you expected to be open may be closed.
- Expect crowds, not gridlock. Trains run on holiday timetables and popular spots get busy, but daily life keeps moving — konbini and most restaurants stay open throughout.
- Are convenience stores and trains open during the New Year holiday?
- Yes. Convenience stores stay open, and trains and subways run, though often on a holiday or weekend timetable. The main closures are offices, banks, post office counters, and many clinics.
- What is a substitute holiday (振替休日)?
- When a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the next weekday that is not already a holiday becomes a day off instead. This is why an ordinary Monday can sometimes be a public holiday — check the Cabinet Office calendar to be sure.
- Is Obon a national holiday?
- No. Obon (mid-August) is a customary observance, not an official national holiday, though many companies give time off and travel peaks. The nearby official holiday is Mountain Day on August 11.
- Cabinet Office — National Holidays (国民の祝日) official list (opens in a new tab)
- GO TOKYO — Public Holidays in Japan (official Tokyo guide) (opens in a new tab)
- JNTO — Business Hours and Holidays (opens in a new tab)
- Japan Guide — Obon dates and travel periods (opens in a new tab)
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